Heather Allan
New Zealand nurse, social worker, local politician and community leader
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Catherine Heather Allan (née Walker, 27 March 1941 – 24 March 2024) was a Palmerston North city councillor, Justice of the peace and recipient of Queen's Service Medal for her community service.
27 March 1941
Heather Allan | |
|---|---|
| Councillor, Palmerston North City Council | |
| In office 1992–2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Catherine Heather Walker 27 March 1941 |
| Died | 24 March 2024 (aged 82) |
| Spouse | Bob Allan |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
Heather Allan was born in Palmerston North on 27 March 1941.[1] Her mother, Olive Walker, raised her and her sister, Sally, in Palmerston North.[1]
Allan trained as a nurse at Palmerston North Hospital.[1] She later retrained at Massey University and moved into social work.[2] She later took on a role as consultant to the Social Welfare Department.[1]
In 1978, she served on the Manawatū Branch IHC Committee, later becoming vice president in 1983 and president in 1986.[3] In 1986, she served a term on the Palmerston North Hospital Board, and then two years further years on the Manawatu-Whanganui Area Health Board in an elected position on the board.[1] She was later an appointed member to the policy board of the New Zealand Disabilities Resource Centre.[1]
In 1989, she, Nan Kinross and Joan Chettleburgh found a housing for men made homeless with the closure of the Railways Hostel, and started the Mash Trust.[1][4] She chaired the trust from 2009 until October 2021, and was patron until her death in 2024.[1][4][5] The trust has found housing for hundreds of people across the lower North Island.[1]
In 1992, she was elected to the Palmerston North City Council and served for nine years as an elected city councillor.[1] During her time in office she was also part of the Transitional Health Authority.[6] In 2000, she was the chairperson of the Manawatū Community Law Centre, and was the centre’s patron.[1][7]
She was also a Justice of the peace for several years, retiring in 2016.[1][8]
She died on 24 March 2024.[1]
Awards
In 1991, she received a Civic Honour for Community Service from the Palmerston North City Council, particularly for her service to IHC New Zealand.[3] In 1993, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for Community Service.[9] She has also received a National Police Shield.[1]